Bale laughs at ex-Chelsea star Hazard as they watch Real Madrid get knocked out of cup

Los Blancos crashed out at the quarter-final stage with a 1-0 defeat at Athletic Bilbao on Thursday, in a disappointing result being branded as one of Carlo Ancelotti's worst ever.

Ancelotti has shouldered a lot of the blame for the defeat, having decided to play Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo despite both playing for Brazil the day before, while Luka Jovic was snubbed despite the absence of Karim Benzema, with Marco Asensio being deployed in a false-nine instead.

Fans were angry after the boss decided to leave Jovic, Bale and Hazard on the bench for the entire game.

But it's likely Real's famously passionate fanbase will be equally furious with the scenes they saw on the bench, with Bale and Hazard joking around during the match.

Welsh forward Bale was pictured cracking up laughing when the Belgian, who had spent a long time warming up on the touchline in the second-half apparently readying himself to go on the pitch, was then told to sit back down.

The situation has epitomised Hazard's spell in Spain, who has failed to live up to expectations since his £88million transfer from the Blues in 2019.

A series of injuries has prevented the Belgian from showing the form that made him such a fearsome player in the Premier League, which has now resulted to him warming the bench more often than terrorising defences.

Undoubtedly, no player enjoys being a substitute who stays seated on the bench, but Bale at least found some joy in sitting on it, even if at the expense of his teammate.

Both remained there until full-time, as Los Blancos were sent crashing out of the tournament thanks to a 89th minute strike from Spanish winger Alejandro Berenguer Remiro.

Post-match, Ancelotti was understandably upset by the result, but had little to say when questioned why he didn't bring on Hazard or Bale.

"I have nothing to say. Why are you talking about Bale, Hazard and Luka Jovi?" The former Chelsea and Everton manager said.

"Why not ask about [Dani] Ceballos, [Dani] Carvajal? All of the guys who don't play, it must because they're being punished, right?

"It can't be just those three. There's nothing in it.

"I made decisions which didn't involve those players but if we're being honest you have to discuss Ceballos, who didn't play a single minute, and those who are on the bench like [Jesus] Vallejo, who have the same quality."